The Lambeth Country show will definitely go ahead in September with a full budget of £400,ooo, the council has announced.
Confirmation of the event, in Brockwell Park, Herne Hill on 15 and 16 September, comes as a massive victory for the Brixton Blog campaign to save the 37-year-old show, which attracted almost 2,000 signatures on an online petition.
It signals a massive u-turn from Lambeth council, who announced in February that the fair, which attracts up to 200,000 south Londoners each year, would be cancelled in 2012 due to the Olympics. The public outrage that ensued saw hurried statements issued stating a decision had not yet been made, and eventually the proposal for a revised date for the show.
In a further twist, the show will enjoy full funding of £400,000 after Lambeth’s Labour council supported a Lib Dem motion to fully fund it. Organisers hope to recuperate £100,000 from fees.
Read an updated timeline of the Lambeth Country Show fiasco here .
In a concession to charities and community groups, the council has waived the fees for their stalls this year. It will organise a meeting for community groups around Brockwell Park later this month.
A council spokesperson said yesterday: “The Lambeth Country Show is one of the most popular free days out anywhere in London, regularly attracting thousands of visitors. It has all the attractions of a traditional country fair, such as home grown vegetables, jams, chutneys and horticultural shows, but with a distinctly urban South London vibe.
“Council officers will be working closely with local residents and community groups to develop this year’s show together, and a public meeting is being planned for April for people who want to get involved and contribute their ideas and energy.”
An event manager was formerly appointed last week, and a new twitter @lblevents has also been launched.
Due to the earlier nightfall in September, the show will run from 11am until 6pm on both days of the festival. For more information on the show visit www.lambeth.gov.uk.
[…] From Brixton Blog’s successful campaign to Save the Lambeth Country Show, through to Hedon Blog’s ‘Hedon Pong’campaign – […]
[…] and reporting on a wide variety of stories in the area. In our first few months, we even saved the Lambeth Country Show from cancellation. The value of the Brixton Blog’s journalism was recognised last month when we were nominated […]
… although the document doesn’t actually have a date on it, so we have to take the council at their word that this is from before the news leaked that it might be cancelled.
You’ve done great work in raising awareness, but is it really a victory? THis FOI request I put in suggests that the September date was always on the cards (suggesting the council just handled the comms very badly):
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/104749/response/260596/attach/html/3/Lambeth%20Country%20show%202012%20Event%20Proforma%20Report%20v.4.doc.html
Hooraaaaaaaaay!!